The most expensive race in Albemarle County history continues as both candidates for the at-large School Board seat had another active period. Prior to October, the campaigns of both Meg Bryce and Allison Spillman had crossed the $100,000 mark.
On October 1, the Spillman campaign had $43,813 in the bank and raised $56,387 in cash and collected another $22,536 in in-kind donations. Sonjia Smith contributed $40,000 in the period with John Grisham giving another $5,000. Prior to this period, Smith had given another $30,000 to the campaign.
An entity called Albemarle Parents Promoting Learning Inc. contributed $21,750 in in-kind donations. The report filed with the Virginia Department of Education lists this as covering the actual cost of direct mail.
The campaign spent a total of $86,040 including $57,500 to LC Media for media. Another $21,675 went to Petel & Company for direct mail services. Spillman had $14,160 on hand on October 26.
Bryce began the month with $51,319 and raised an additional $16,226 in cash and $2,493 in in-kind donations. The cash includes $5,000 from Peter Taylor.
The campaign spent $32,852 in the partial month with $20,000 to Lifeview Marketing, a creator and purchaser of television ads. Another $8,468 went to the firm Creative Direct, a direct mail vendor that specializes in Republican campaigns. The campaign had $34,692 on hand at the close of October 26.
There’s not nearly as much funding in the race for the White Hall seat on the School Board where appointed incumbent Rebecca Berlin faces challenger Joann McDermid.
McDermid’s campaign began the month with $1,199, raised $2,324, and spent $996.
Berlin had $6,961 in the bank on October 1, raised $775, and spent $7,556 with $7,012 of that going to the Democratic Party – State of Virginia. There was $159 in the campaign coffer on October 26.
In the Rivanna District, incumbent Judy Le is the only candidate on the ballot but there is a write-in challenger in Michelle de Stefano.
The de Stefano campaign began the month with $780 and raised $2,375. That includes $2,000 from the Albemarle County Republican Committee. The campaign spent $777 with all but $1 of that going to the Charlottesville Radio Group. There was $2,377 left over.
Le began the month with $933, raised $200, spent $367, and had $765 in the account on October 26.
Like her counterpart in the Supervisor Race, Scottsville School Board member Ellen Osborne has no coordinated opposition. She did not raise any money, spent $270, and had $546 left in the bank.
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